Automatic safety brake device



Aug- 23, 1938 E. M. slLEs ET AL. v 2,127,890

AUTOMATIC SAFETY BRAKE DEVICE Filed Nov. 1'?, 1957 Lu lNvx-:NTOR

` Ig ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC SAFETY BRAKE DEVICE Ellery M. Sills and Norman A. Sills, Portland, Oreg.

IApplication November 17, 1937, Serial No. 175,113

4 Claims. (C1. 18S-152) This invention relates to automatic safety A support I4 is mounted on the motor Vehicle brake devices and has for the primary object the or may form a part of the support 6 and carries provision of a device of this character which will a diaphragm casing I5 in which operates a diaassure an instant and complete automatic appliphragm I6 forming in said casing I5 a vacuum `5` cation of the brakes of a motor vehicle and its chamber I1 connected to the reserve tank 2 by a 5 trailer should said vehicle be of this type when pipe I8 having located therein the vacuum opthe engine of the vehicle fails or becomes inoperated valve I9. A rod 20 is connected on the diaerative from any cause or when it is intentionphragm I6 and a portion thereof which is arally stopped for parking or the like. ranged exteriorly of the casing I5 is in the form 16 With these and other objects in view, this inof a rack bar 2| slidably supported by the sup- 10 vention consists in certain novel features of port I4. The rack bar 2I is connected to a construction, combination and arrangement of brake rigging of the motor vehicle in any well parts to be hereinafter more fully described and known manner for the purpose of bringing about claimed. full application of the motor vehicle brakes when For a complete understanding of our inventhe rack bar is moved to the right in Figure l 15 tion, reference is to be had to the following deor as shown in said Figure 1.` A spring pressed scription and accompanying drawing, in which dog 22 is pivotally mounted on the support I4 Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, to engage with the rack bar 2l for securing the illustrating an automatic safety brake device latter against sliding movement in a direction 20 constructed in accordance with our invention. to prevent release of the motor vehicle brake. 20

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional A camV 23 is pivotally mounted on the support I4 view illustrating the automatically actuated vacand engages with the dog 22 .and is connected to uurn controlled valve. one end of the bell crank lever II), as shown at Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional 24. The cam 23 is for the purpose of disengag- 25- viewy illustrating a vacuum actuated valve. ing the dog from the rack bar when the bell crank 25 Referring in detail to the drawing, the nulever is moved into one of its positions freeing meral I indicates a main vacuum pipe to be conthe brakes of the motor vehicle for a normal opnected to an intake manifold of an engine of a eration. motor vehicle for the purpose of maintaining a A hand lever 25 is operatively connected with partial vacuum therein during the operation of the bell crank lever I0 for positioning the latter 30 the engine or the pipe l may be connected to to disengage the dog from the rack bar. The some other vacuum source (not shown). 2 inhand lever 25 provides a medium whereby the dicates a reserve vacuum tank connected to the rack bar 2I may be freed manually when main vacuum pipe I by a pipe 3 having therein desired.

a check valve 4. A partial vacuum is developed A control valve 26 is mounted on the support 6 35 in the reserve vacuum tank 2 by the vacuum deand consists of a housing 21 having ports 28 veloped in the main vacuum pipe I, and should and 29 to which pipes 30 and 3| are connected. the vacuum be destroyed from any cause in the The pipe 30 connects with the reserve vacuum main vacuum pipe I the check valve 4 acts to tank 2 while the pipe 3I connects with the pipe prevent the vacuum in the reserve vacuum tank 32, one end of which is connected to the valve 4:0

2 from being destroyed. A diaphragm casing 5 I9 and the other end connected to the main is carried by a support 6 mounted on the motor vacuum pipe I between the vacuum source and vehicle and has therein a diaphragm 1 forming the pipe 3 and has located therein a manually acin the diaphragm casing 5 a vacuum chamber 8 tuated control valve 21 whereby the valve I9 in direct communication with the main vacuum may be opened and closed to themain vacuum 45 pipe I. 'A rod 9 is secured on the diaphragm pipe I and when in connection therewith will 1 and extends out of the casing 5 and is pivoted bring about .actuation of the brakes by hand to one end of a bell crank lever Ill, the latter control. being pivotally mounted on the support 6, as The control valve 26 includes a slidable valve shown at II. A collar I2 is secured on the rod element 33 connected to the bell crank lever I0, 50 9 and forms a seat for one end of a coil spring as shown at 34, and is provided with communi- I3, the other end of the spring seats against the eating passages 35 and 36. The housing 21 of support 6 so that the spring acts to flex the diathe valve 26 has a vent opening 31. The valve phragm 1 in one direction or in the position as element 33 `may assume a position to connect shown in Figure l. the` pipes 30 .and 3| or may assume a position 55.

to Vent the pipe 3l to the atmosphere, as shown in Figure 2.

The triple valve I9 consists of a housing 38 in which is located a diaphragm 39 forming a vacuum chamber 40 in the housing. The vacuum chamber 49 is connected to the pipe 32. A coil spring 4I is also located in the vacuum chamber 49 and acts on the diaphragm 39 to flex the same into a position, as shown in Figure 3. A valve element 42 is secured on the diaphragm 39 for controlling ports 43 of the housing 38 to which pipe I8 is connected. 'I'he valve element 42 has communicating passages 44 and 45. The valve housing 38 has a vent opening 46. When the Vacuum chamber 40 is free of vacuum the coil spring 4I acts to position the valve element 42 to vent the vacuum chamber I1 to the atmosphere. However, when a vacuum is developed in the vacuum chamber 49 the diaphragm 39 is acted on by said vacuum to bring the passage 45 in communication with the ports 43 for connecting the vacuum chamber I 'Iy with the reserve vacuum tank 2.

In operation, a partial Vacuum is developed in the main vacuum pipe I and the reserve vacuum tank 2 by the running of the engine of the automobile. The partial vacuum in the main vacuum pipe I acts on the diaphragm 'I to iiex the same to the right in Figure 1, bringing about a movement of the bell crank lever IIJ positioning the valve 26 to vent pipe 3l and disengages the dog 22 from the rack bar 2I to permit normal operation of the brakes of the motor vehicle. Also the spring 4I of the valve IT positions the valve element 42 thereof to vent the vacuum chamber I1 to the atmosphere closing the vacuum reserve tank 2 to the vacuum chamber Il, consequently permitting free iiexation of the diaphragm I6 with the normal application and release of the brakes of the vehicle in the usual manner. Should the engine fail from any cause to become inoperative the vacuum in the main vacuum pipe I is broken or destroyed and the spring i3 acts to eX the diaphragm 1 into the position as shown in Figure l and to position the bell crank, as shown in said Figure 1. 'I'he cam 23 assumes a position to permit the dog 22 to engage the rack bar and the valve 26 to communicate the pipes 39 and 3I, placing the vacuum chamber 40 of the valve I9 in communication with the reserve Vacuum tank 2. The diaphragm 39 is flexed into the position as shown in Figure l, connecting the reserve vacuum tank 2 with the vacuum chamber II so that the vacuum in the reserve vacuum tank acts to leX the diaphragm I6 into the position shown in Figure 1, bringing about a full or complete application of the brakes of the motor vehicle by the rack bar sliding to the right or into a position as shown in Figure l. The dog 22 holds the rack bar in this position preventing release of the brakes until the engine is again starte-d to create vacuum` in the main vacuum pipe I or by the release of the dog 22 from the rack bar through the manual operation of the hand lever 25.

A device of the character described and shown in the drawing can be used in conjuction with any type of brake riggings employed upon motor vehicles.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic safety brake device comprising a main vacuum means connected to a vacuum source, a storage vacuum means connected to said main vacuum means to have a vacuum developed therein by the latter and to maintain said vacuum therein when the vacuum in said main vacuum means is destroyed or interrupted from any cause, a vacuum operated means connected to a brake mechanism and to said storage vacuum means to bring about operation of said brake mechanism for full application of brakes of said mechanism when subjected to the vacuum in said storage vacuum means, said vacuum operated means including a locking means to secure said vacuum operated means in a position for the full application of the brakes, a vacuum actuated valve controlling the communication of said vacuum operated means with said storage vacuum means and normally interrupting said communication, a vacuum actuated lock operating means connected to said main vacuum means and to the locking means to free the vacuum operated means as long as subjected to the vacuum of said main vacuum means and adapted to automatically effect actuation of the locking means to secure the brakes fully applied when free of vacuum by the interruption of the vacuum in the main vacuum means from any cause, and a Valve means operated by said vacuum actuated lock operating means and controlling the vacuum from the storage vacuum means to said vacuum actuated valve to bring about actuation of said vacuum operated means for the full application of the brakes when the vacuum in said main vacuum means is destroyed.

2. An automatic safety b-rake device comprising a main vacuum means connected to an intake manifold of an engine of an automobile, a storage vacuum tank connected to said main vacuum means to have a vacuum developed therein from the source and including means to prevent destruction of the vacuum should the engine fail in operation, a slidably supported rack bar connected to a brake rigging of the motor vehicle, a spring pressed dog engageable with said rack bar to prevent sliding movement of the rack bar in a direction for the release of brakes of said brake rigging, a vacuum casing, a diaphragm operable in said casing and forming therein a vacuum chamber and connected to said rack bar, a valve connecting the vacuum chamber to the storage tank and normally occupying a position to close the vacuum chamber of said casing to the vacuum in the storage tank, a second vacuum casing, a diaphragm operating in the second vacuum casing and forming a vacuum chamber therein connected in direct communication with the main vacuum means, a mechanical construction connected to the second named diaphragm and acting to normally disengage the dog from the rack bar as long as the second named diaphragm is acted upon by a vacuum in the main Vacuum means and adapted to permit engagement of the dog with the rack bar when the vacuum in the main vacuum means is destroyed by failure of operation of the engine, and a valved means connected to and controlled by said mechanical construction for controlling vacuum from the storage tank to said first valve and adapted to actuate the latter on the failure of the engine to communicate the storage tank with the rst named vacuum chamber to bring about complete application of the brake mechanism due to the sliding of the rack bar by the rst named diaphragm.

3. An automatic safety brake device comprising a main vacuum means connected to an intake manifold of an engine of an automobile, a storage vacuum tank connected to said main vacuum means to have a vacuum developed therein from the source and including means to prevent destruction of the vacuum should the engine fail in operation, a slidably supported rack bar connected to a brake rigging of the motor vehicle, a spring pressed dog engageable with said rack bar to prevent sliding movement of the rack bar in a direction for the release of brakes of said brake rigging, a vacuum casing, a diaphragm operable in said casing and forming therein a vacuum chamber and connected to said rack bar, a valve connecting the vacuum chamber to the storage tank and normally occupying a position to close the vacuum chamber of said casing to the vacuum in the storage tank, a second vacuum casing, a diaphragm operating in the second vacuum casing and forming a vacuum chamber therein connected in direct communication with the main vacuum means, a mechanical construction connected to the second named diaphragm and acting to normally disengage the dog from the rack bar as long as the second named diaphragm is acted upon by a vacuum in the main vacuum means and adapted to permit engagement of the dog with the rack bar when the vacuum in the main vacuum means is destroyed by failure of operation of the engine, a valved means connected to and controlled by said mechanical construction for controlling vacuum from the storage tank to said rst valve and adapted to actuate the latter on the failure of the engine to communicate the storage tank With the rst named vacuum chamber to bring about complete application of the brake mechanism due to the sliding of the rack bar by the iirst named diaphragm, and a hand controlled lever connected with the mechanical construction to eiect release of the dog from the rack bar when desired.

4. An automatic safety brake device comprising a main vacuum means connected to an intake manifold of an engine of an automobile, a storage vacuum tank connected to said main vacuum means to have a vacuum developed therein from the source and including means to prevent destruction of the vacuum should the engine fail in operation, a slidably supported rack bar connected to a brake rigging of the motor Vehicle, a spring pressed dog engageable with said rack bar to prevent sliding movement of the rack bar in a direction for the release of brakes of said brake rigging, a vacuum casing, a diaphragm operable in said casing and forming therein a vacuum chamber and connected to said rack bar, a valve connecting the vacuum chamber to the storage tank and normally occupying a position to close the vacuum chamber of said casing to the vacuum in the storage tank, a second vacuum casing, a diaphragm operating in the second vacuum casing and forming a vacuum chamber therein connected in direct communication with the main vacuum means, a mechanical construction connected to the second named diaphragm and acting to normally disengage the dog from the rack bar as long as the second named diaphragm is acted upon by a vacuum in the main vacuum means and adapted to permit engagement of the dog With the rack bar when the vacuum in the main vacuum means is destroyed by failure of operation of the engine, a valved means connected to and controlled by said mechanical construction for controlling a vacuum from the storage tank to said rst valve and adapted to actuate the latter on the failure of the engine to communicate the storage tank with the iirst named vacuum chamber to bring about complete application of the brake mechanism due to the sliding of the rack bar by the first named diaphragm, a hand controlled lever connected With the mechanical construction to effect release of the dog from the rack bar When desired, and a manually controlled means connected to said main vacuum means and to said first valve whereby the latter may be manually actuated to communicate the first named vacuum chamber with the vacuum storage tank for the application of the brakes of the brake mechanism.

ELLERY M. SILLS. NORMAN A. SILLS. 

